Review of Christmas in Connecticut (1945) by Devon B — 22 Dec 2009

Christmas In Connecticut is a fairly enjoyable christmas movie from the 1940s that's so light it seems to be floating away at times. Barbara Sanwyck plays a columnist who writes a "Martha Stewart"-type magazine column all about the farm on which she lives with her husband and baby, and all the delicious meals she prepares for them.

The only problem is, it's all a fabrication. When the nurse who's in love with the sailor calls in a favor with the man who's child she nursed back to health who just happens to be the publisher of the magazine for which Stanwyck writes, well, she's forced to live out the fantasy life she's been writing about in order to keep her job.

The nurse you see, wants to show the sailor how wonderful domestic bliss can be, in order to get him to marry her, but from the moment the sailor walks into the borrowed farm house, he's only got one thing on his mind: Stanwyck.

Sure, it's hokey, predictable, and the plot is really contrived (even for the 1940s), but there's something about this film that sneaks up on you and manages to charm despite it's flaws. Most likely it's Stanwyck and her co-stars, who all give great, fun performances.

Maybe it's a little generous to call this one a "classic, it's more a 2nd-tier holiday film, but it's still worth a trip to Connecticut every once in awhile.